Women's History Month: My task force to transform Israel's north

Gina, second from right, on last summer's Kiryat Shmona & Upper Eastern Galilee Task Force Mission.

We're celebrating Women's History Month all March long by sharing stories of the amazing women who make up Jewish National Fund! In addition, we're matching all donations up to a total $1 million during this time. Learn more: jnf.org/women

By Gina Raphael

My story with Jewish National Fund's Kiryat Shmona & Upper Eastern Galilee Task Force displays JNF at its finest. During the summer of 2016, I was at the Knesset with my good friend Nadav Douani, who is chief of staff for Science Minister Ofir Akunis. Nadav asked if I would like to visit the Knesset members' dining room and meet politician and former Israel ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren. It was truly special to meet him, and when Nadav told him I was very involved with JNF, Michael Oren said, "Please remind Russell Robinson (JNF CEO) of all the work we need to do in Metulla." 

So, I called Russell from Jerusalem and he said we have much to do for our Go North initiative and we are going to put you on our Upper Eastern Galilee Task Force with Dr. Melinda Wolf.

From the JNF Kitchen: Johnny Stern's stuffed chicken from Israel

In the JNF Kitchen: Strawberry spinach salad from Israel's Galilee

Festival connects Israelis of all backgrounds with a traditional Christmas

By Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod

Hundreds of Israelis headed north this week for a taste of something they don't usually get to experience -- a traditional Christmas in the Western Galilee. Despite chilly temperatures and drizzling rain, nearly 700 people flocked from all over the country for the fourth Western Galilee Now Winter Festival to see how their Christian neighbors celebrate.

Tour guide Amnon Gofer, who led a geopolitical tour through the Arab city of Tarshiha, said Israelis are driven by a deep innate curiosity. "It doesn’t say in the Torah 'sit and learn,'" he said. "It says 'go and learn.'"

In the JNF Kitchen: Stuffed zucchinis and vine leaves

This #RecipeOfTheWeek is from the Druze village of Julis, one of the charming locations where GallilEATS organizes culinary experiences and cooking workshops. It is brought to you by GallilEATs owner Paul Nirens, who has lived in the rural Galilee region for almost 30 years and is a former chef who trained at one of Israel's leading culinary schools.

Paul describes Galilee as Israel's Provence or Tuscany; the region offers a bounty of top-quality, locally grown produce, including olives, fruits, and vegetables that have been staples since biblical days. In the last few years, the area has become a paradise for foodies and wine enthusiasts, offering boutique gourmet products ranging from cheeses, meats, breads, and conserves to beers, wines, and liqueurs.

In the JNF Kitchen: Easy crispy chickpea delight

While the Hebrew word for chickpea is hummus, there's so much more to chickpeas than hummus, or falafel for that matter, in Israeli cuisine. For a healthy and delicious variation on the humble bean, we bring you an easy and flavorful chickpea salad from Hagit Lidror. Hagit's cuisine is healthy and ingredient-focused, representative of Israeli cuisine in its freshness and simplicity. She is one of the people making the Western Galilee a paradise for foodies and wine enthusiasts (see our gallery below for scenes from the region, a key development area of the JNF #GoNorth initiative). 

Modern miracle #PoweredByJNF: A new Napa Valley, tucked in the Galilee

The Western Galilee, located in Israel's north, is becoming a destination for lovers of good food. Really good food.

Sometimes a miracle is about helping people experience the magic that already exists close to home. As part of the Jewish National Fund's Go North program, JNF is giving Israelis a reason to discover their own version of Napa Valley just a short drive from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. 

The Western Galilee, in the northern part of Israel, is nestled between Mount Meron and the Mediterranean Sea. Overflowing with history, culture, natural beauty, and stellar local produce, the region is a source of world-class wines, boutique cheeses, and gorgeous scenery. And it’s an easy day trip from just about anywhere in Israel.